TST Trainer
WWB Story Mode
Topic:
Viruses
Timeless ideas at the intersections of science, philosophy, critical thinking, and history.
MODE:
~
8 minute
audio walk.
Viruses: Timeless ideas at the intersections of science, philosophy, critical thinking, and history.
Story mode.
Eight key ideas and takeaways.
1. Our first story.
From History: ~3.7 Billion Years Ago (+/- 100 million).
Subject: Virus Evolution.
About 3.7 billion years ago, RNA virus ancestors may trace back to the RNA world, but we can’t prove whether they predate LUCA or arose just after.
That takeaway is this.
By 3.7 billion years ago, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is ancient. They are found across diverse RNA viruses and likely predate the diversification of modern cells. Some researchers propose RNA viruses may be as old as early cellular life. So Riboviria could have roots near the origin of life itself.
That Viruses Story,
was first published on TST 2 months ago.
2. Now for our second story.
From History: From 251.902 to 66.0 million years ago..
Subject: Evolution.
186 Million years: Dinosauria reigned from extinction to extinction.
The Mesozoic era starts with the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago. Dinosaurs ruled over all, including us. It ends the reign of dinosaurs with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago.
Now to clarify.
The Mesozoic era starts with the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago ending the reign of our synapsid ancestors. Within it, it includes the end-Triassic extinction 201 million years ago and the Toarcian environmental crisis 183 million years ago. The Mesozoic era ends the reign of dinosaurs with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago.
That Viruses Story,
was first published on TST 1 month ago.
Finally, 4 frequently asked “questions.”
“Done.”
Tidbits make it possible to build slowly and honestly, without losing track of where an idea came from.
Each weekly edition of the TST Weekly Column consists of a central column supported by a research layer of stories, quotes, timelines, and FAQs.
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(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
